Full Smoking Ban?

[sp1814]

Should the UK follow New Zealand's lead and work towards a full smoking ban?

I think it's a very brave move, and personally I'd be all for it.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/09/new-zealand-to-ban-smoking-for-next-generation-in-bid-to-outlaw-habit-by-2025

[naomi24]

I’ve seen the comments prior to yours, sp. it’s still a stupid analogy.

[sp1814]

A-H

You could argue that there are boundaries which society set.

Take drink driving as an example. There was a time you could get tanked up and drink yourself home but as a society we decided that the negatives of doing this far outweighed any idea of personal freedom.

It's when personal freedoms break the borders of acceptable behaviour that laws are altered.

[sp1814]

naomi24 - should grown-ups be free to smoke cigarettes in cars with children?

[barry1010]

Only very selfish smokers would choose to smoke in a car or any confined space where non-smokers are present.

[sp1814]

naomi24 - so far you're the only one to critique the analogy.

This may be because you're the only person on the thread smart enough to see how weak it is - or it may indicate something else.

But I'd like to keep this on track as there are some interesting points being raised.

[naomi24]

It’s not that it’s weak, sp, it’s simply ridiculous to compare choosing to potentially harm yourself with committing murder and rape. I think it’s actually offensive to victims to trivialise serious crime in that manner.

[sp1814]

naomi24

Ask analogy isn't a comparison between two ideas. It's an expression of ONE idea to throw light on the subject being discussed.

My point is this - you may have the 'freedom' to drive without a seatbelt, or commit murder, or set fire to a school - in that there is no physical measures preventing you from engaging in these acts, you're not actually free to do these acts because there are societal and legal consequences.

But this isn't the main thrust of the discussion - you believe that people should be free to smoke if they wish. But do you agree that as a society we should discourage it?

Isn't that what we do already, with restrictions on purchase, advertising, and exorbitant taxes? Wouldn't this step simply be taking it to its natural conclusion?

Imagine a society in 50 years where 99% of the population never smoked? Just like now when the idea of smoking in an office, club, pub, aeroplane, tube station seems completely alien.

Wouldn't that be brilliant?

[sp1814]

naomi24

Oh hell.

I've just looked up the definition of 'analogy' and can see where this is going to go.

;-)

[naomi24]

If you can see where this is going perhaps you should enlighten the rest of us because I for one haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.

Yes, I think we should discourage it, sp.

[sp1814]

naomi24

I'll be honest - I've seen some *properly* interesting answers by members who have a different point of view - some of which I don't agree with and some that have swayed me.

...but it's now Saturday night, and like most people I've got stuff to be getting on with.

Enjoy your evening!

[dave50]

Same folk that love lockdowns would love a complete smoking ban. Control freaks and I don't smoke.

[ToraToraTora]

barry: "Only very selfish smokers would choose to smoke in a car or any confined space where non-smokers are present. " - that's pretty well all of them, I see it countless times kid in back seat mum and dad puffing away in the front. Ironically they usually have a "child on board" sticker! If smokers were not selfish the 2007 smoking ban would not have been necessary.

[barry1010]

TTT, you wouldn't notice the smokers that choose not to smoke in the car with kids in the back.

[ToraToraTora]

of course I wouldn't what an odd thing to say.

[douglas9401]

They would have a 'smoke free' sticker on the back window, barry, to fulfil their social contract with those who 'usually' spot these things.

[Spicerack]

'Auschwitz did not fall suddenly from the skies', Sp.
https://mobile.twitter.com/RobSchneider/status/1467886052270559239

[barry1010]

That was to counteract your 'pretty well all of them' comment, TTT. You can't possibly know that

[ToraToraTora]

well It's a fact, that's why their house was put in order for them in 2007. If they were not selfish that would not have been necessary.

[ToraToraTora]

why anyone would want to filter thousands of toxic chemicals through their lungs is beyond me but the people that do would have scant regard for others.

[Spicerack]

I don't like cabbage, ttt, but I wouldn't stop you eating it.
Outside of the current Cabinet, you must be one of the only so-called conservatives who keeps demanding more state intervention in peoples' lives.
Stop watching (and believing) the BBC and Sky is my advice.
And if you don't I demand they are banned.